Groundwater Heat Pumps - ratiotherm Smart Energy Systems

Q: Who would benefit from a groundwater heat pump?

A groundwater heat pump is generally worthwhile for any type of building, whether it is a single-family home or a commercial building. It is important that the well required for the groundwater heat pump can be accommodated on the property with an area of approx. 1 square meter. In rural areas with larger plots of land, a groundwater heat pump often makes more sense than on smaller plots in urban areas, as there is more space available for installing the well. In addition, the existing groundwater quantity and soil conditions must not be ignored. If the soil layers close to the groundwater mainly consist of gravel and open-pored rock, the groundwater flows faster than in solid and dense soil layers – especially if the groundwater level is close to the surface. Use groundwater heat pumps for your home or commercial premises. Get in touch with us.

Q: How do I know if I am allowed to tap groundwater on my property?

Ask your local water authority whether the use of groundwater is permitted on your property. Every well system for a groundwater heat pump must be officially approved, including the corresponding drilling. The water management authority will provide you with information about your location, the feasibility, and, in most cases, the amount of groundwater available on your property. In some states, an additional expert opinion is required.

Q: What is the average service life of a groundwater heat pump?

A groundwater heat pump has a service life of 15 to 25 years. The decisive factors are the required efficiency and the respective temperatures on the heating and hot water generation side. As a general rule, lower temperatures also mean less wear and tear on the groundwater heat pump. A stratified storage tank increases the service life of your groundwater heat pump, as the heat pump has to cycle less and undergo fewer start-stop processes when a heat storage tank is used.

Q: What is required for a groundwater heat pump?

For your groundwater heat pump, a plastic pipe is inserted into the pre-drilled well. This allows a slim, cylindrical pump to be lowered into the well, which only starts up when the heat pump is active. Underground, an electricity and water pipe run back to the house via the well head.

Q: Does a groundwater heat pump also cool?

Yes, a groundwater heat pump can of course also cool. This is referred to as passive cooling because only the cold groundwater is used directly for cooling. Your heat pump itself does not need to operate in this case.

Q: How much does a well cost for installing a groundwater heat pump?

The cost of one pair of wells, consisting of a suction well and a discharge well, for installing your groundwater heat pump is between €7,000 and €10,000. The calculation is based on the drilling depth and number of wells required for the necessary heating output.

Q: How high are the maintenance costs for a groundwater heat pump?

We recommend that you have your groundwater heat pump serviced for the first time after the first year of operation. Ideally, you should schedule the next maintenance appointments at intervals of 2 years (3rd year, 5th year, 7th year, etc.).

How a groundwater heat pump generates energy:

In addition to drinking water use, groundwater has another important function: energy production. Use it with a groundwater heat pump for renewable heating of your home or for heating drinking water. Groundwater close to the surface has a constant temperature that is subject to only minor seasonal fluctuations. At typical temperatures of 8°C to 12°C, groundwater provides the ideal energy source for your groundwater heat pump.

How it works: Like any other heat pump, the groundwater heat pump generates energy from groundwater. This requires a sufficient amount of groundwater. The depth of the wells to be drilled on your property depends on the groundwater level and ranges from 3 to 20 meters. The heat pump extracts a certain temperature from the groundwater and uses the energy it contains to generate energy for heating. The energy is transported in the form of groundwater via so-called suction and absorption wells.

Advantages of a groundwater heat pump:

Constant groundwater temperature: the most efficient way to use heat pumps
No noise pollution for your neighbors: your groundwater heat pump operates very quietly.
Take advantage of government subsidies

Take advantage of a groundwater heat pump for efficient and long-term sustainable energy generation.

Products from the groundwater heat pump sector

Our proven groundwater heat pumps

Groundwater WP Max-LoQ

Maximum efficiency in a compact design

Groundwater WP Max-LoQ C

Complete heating system with integrated heat pump

Grundwasser
WP Max-LoQ WF

Wenig Platzbedarf durch Wandaufhängung

Groundwater
WP Max-LoQ pF

Propane R290 as a natural refrigerant

FAQ: Questions & answers about groundwater heat pumps

Who would benefit from a groundwater heat pump?

A groundwater heat pump is generally worthwhile for any type of building, whether it is a single-family home or a commercial building. It is important that the well required for the groundwater heat pump can be accommodated on the property with an area of approx. 1 square meter. In rural areas with larger plots of land, a groundwater heat pump often makes more sense than on smaller plots in urban areas, as there is more space available for installing the well. In addition, the existing groundwater quantity and soil conditions must not be ignored. If the soil layers close to the groundwater mainly consist of gravel and open-pored rock, the groundwater flows faster than in solid and dense soil layers – especially if the groundwater level is close to the surface. Use groundwater heat pumps for your home or commercial premises. Get in touch with us.

Can a groundwater heat pump freeze in very cold winters?

Don’t worry. As a general rule, liquids and solid layers in the ground do not freeze at depths of 0.80 m to 1 m. Temperatures that would restrict the functionality of your groundwater heat pump do not occur in Germany. In rare cases and very cold winters, if the groundwater temperature drops significantly (below approx. 3°C), safety shut-offs ensure that your groundwater heat pump does not freeze. In plain language: the heat pump would automatically shut down before any damage could occur.

How do I know if I am allowed to tap groundwater on my property?

Ask your local water authority whether the use of groundwater is permitted on your property. Every well system for a groundwater heat pump must be officially approved, including the corresponding drilling. The water management authority will provide you with information about your location, the feasibility, and, in most cases, the amount of groundwater available on your property. In some states, an additional expert opinion is required.

What is the average service life of a groundwater heat pump?

A groundwater heat pump has a service life of 15 to 25 years. The decisive factors are the required efficiency and the respective temperatures on the heating and hot water generation side. As a general rule, lower temperatures also mean less wear and tear on the groundwater heat pump. A stratified storage tank increases the service life of your groundwater heat pump, as the heat pump has to cycle less and undergo fewer start-stop processes when a heat storage tank is used.

What is required for a groundwater heat pump?

For your groundwater heat pump, a plastic pipe is inserted into the pre-drilled well. This allows a slim, cylindrical pump to be lowered into the well, which only starts up when the heat pump is active. Underground, an electricity and water pipe run back to the house via the well head.

Does a groundwater heat pump also cool?

Yes, a groundwater heat pump can of course also cool. This is referred to as passive cooling because only the cold groundwater is used directly for cooling. Your heat pump itself does not need to operate in this case.

How much does a well cost for installing a groundwater heat pump?

The cost of one pair of wells, consisting of a suction well and a discharge well, for installing your groundwater heat pump is between €7,000 and €10,000. The calculation is based on the drilling depth and number of wells required for the necessary heating output.

How high are the maintenance costs for a groundwater heat pump?

We recommend that you have your groundwater heat pump serviced for the first time after the first year of operation. Ideally, you should schedule the next maintenance appointments at intervals of 2 years (3rd year, 5th year, 7th year, etc.).

Stephan Weinzierl

International sales

+49 (0) 8422 9977-70 | info@ratiotherm.de

Groundwater Heat Pumps from the manufacturer ratiotherm

How a groundwater heat pump generates energy: